Little information about the life of St. Zeno of Verona has survived. Our saint, born at Mauretania (near Algiers) circa 300, served as the Bishop of Verona from 362 to 371. He, a famous preacher, opposed Arianism vigorously. St. Zeno also aided North African refugees fleeing persecution by Arians. Our saint might have become a martyr; traditions regarding the manner of his death have long contradicted each other.

Arianism is an ancient Trinitarian heresy, one of a cluster of such errors. The origin of many heresies is attempting to explain the unexplainable, namely the Trinity. Arianism, in contradiction of John 1:1, defines the Second Person of the Trinity as a created being. This heresy is alive and well in 2017, for the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses who knock on my front door from time to time are Arians.

After Emperor Constantine I “the Great” (reigned 306-337) made Christianity legal (along with other religions) Christian theological disputes became matters of imperial politics. If the Emperor was an Arian, orthodox Christians were likely to have to endure persecution. If the Emperor was an orthodox Christian, Arians might have to experience persecution.

All of this demonstrates the wisdom of having a secular state. It also makes reports of religious persecution leading to people fleeing their homes and become refugees plausible. I do, however, find traditions of St. Zeno’s martyrdom at the hands of the empire improbable, given what the historical record indicates about Emperor Valentinian I (reigned 364-375), a Christian who issued a decree of religious toleration in 371. This fact does not preclude another party, perhaps an angry pagan (consistent with pagan-Christian violence, ubiquitous at the time), martyring St. Zeno, however.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

MAY 29, 2017 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF PERCY DEARMER, ANGLICAN CANON AND TRANSLATOR AND AUTHOR OF HYMNS

THE FEAST OF THE FIRST U.S. PRESBYTERIAN BOOK OF CONFESSIONS, 1967

THE FEAST OF JIRI TRANOVSKY, LUTHER TO THE SLAVS AND FATHER OF SLOVAK HYMNODY